Surgical instrument holder

ABSTRACT

A surgical pad for draping over a patient to hold various articles thereon is manufactured of a flexible sheet of nonporous plastic material. The bottom side of the sheet has a roughened, friction gripping surface with portions pressed upwardly to define projections on the upper surface which may engage articles placed on the sheet. The projections define cavities open at the bottom of the sheet which are surrounded by rings projecting downwardly from the sheet to serve as mechanical gripping means and as suction cups for holding the pad in place on the patient.

United States Patent [151 3,654,047

Berkowitz [4 1 Apr. 4, 1972 [541 SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HOLDER OTHER PUBLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Howard Berkowitz, 19 Beaverdale Road, Cole-Farmer; 1969- 1970 Cat.,C 1969, Page 250, Drawer ln- Stony Brook, NY. 1 1790 sert, Cat. No. 6771 [22] Flled: 1970 Primary Examiner-John T. Goolkasian 2 App], 2,035 Assistant Examiner-Henry F. Epstein Attorney-Edward H. Loveman [52] US. Cl. ..161/7,128/132 D, 128/156, 57] ABSTRACT 128/300, 161/127, 248/206 R, 248/362 51 rm. c1 .3320 3/12, F16b 47/00 A surglcal P for drapme Over a P to hold varwus [58] Field of Search ..248/206 R, 362; 128/132 R, @168 thereon is manufactured of a flexible Sheet of nonporous 128/132 D, 156, 300; 161/7, 127, 131, DIG 3 plastic material. The bottom side ofthe sheet has a roughened,

friction gripping surface with portions pressed upwardly to [56] References Cited define projections on the upper surface which may engage articles placed on the sheet. The projections define cavities open UNITED STATES PATENTS at the bottom of the sheet which are surrounded by rings projecting downwardly from the sheet to serve as mechanical 2,128,118 8/1938 Blll'fOl'd ..248/346.1 gripping means and as Suction cups For holding the Pad in 2,466,502 4/1949 Stiller ..248/206 x place on the patient.

1,936,398 11/1933 Kienle ..4/l82 3,294,387 12/1966 Chavannes ..l61/127 X 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUAPR 4 I972 INVENTOR HOWARD BERKOWITZ ATTORNEY pad made of a heavy gauge The present invention is concerned with a surgical pad for holding instruments during a surgical operation and more particularly with a surgical pad of unitary construction having integral projections for holding instruments during a surgical operation.

Surgical drapes and pads heretofore known have been manufactured of rubberized cloth and have a multiplicity of magnets imbedded therein. The The magnets will hold steel surgical instruments on the drape which is placed on a patient during an operation. However, they have the disadvantage that theywill not hold other non-magnetic articles. Furthermore, they are generally manufactured with a smooth surface from which articles placed thereon tend to slip. Still another disadvantage is that they must sterilize after each use and drapes of this type are quickly worn out after very few washings. Thus they are rather costly.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a flexible plastic material such as vinyl, polyethylene, silicone rubber or the like. The pad is roughened or crinkled on both sides of the sheet and formed with spaced projections arranged in a grid form. The projections extend up from the bottom roughened surface of the pad and serve as pegs or hooks which can engageinstruments and other articles required during a surgical operation. The projections in cooperation with the roughened upper surface prevent the articles from slipping off the pad. The projections are hollow, and are open at the bottom of the pad. Further ring-like projections are formed at the bottom of the pad to engage frictionally on a sheet placed over a patient. These bottom projections are hollow and also serve as suction cups. When the pad is draped on a patient covered by a sheet, the

roughened bottom sideor surface of the pad and the bottom projections and suction cups all cooperate in holding the pad in place.

Accordingly, itis a primary object of the invention to provide a novel and improved surgical pad for holding surgical instruments during a surgical operation.

It is a further objective of the invention to provide a surgical pad of the class described which is constructed to insure that the pad will frictionally engage the surface on which it is placed. Another objectiveof the invention is to provide a surgical pad whichmay be inexpensively priced andhold magnetic and non-magnetic surgical instruments during an operation.

These and other object and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by referenceto the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is an oblique plan view of the surgical pad embodying the invention, one corner of the pad being shown in a turned up position.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 ofFIG. I (with parts omitted).

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view with parts broken away of another pad embodying the invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view similar to FIG. 2, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 with parts omitted.

FIG. Sis a sectional view similar to FIGS. 2 and 4, showing a third pad construction.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view taken along line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, showing a fourth pad construction.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7 showing a fifth pad construction.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like references numerals designate like partsthroughout the figures thereof, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a rectangular pad generally designated by reference numberal 10. The pad 10 may be of any convenient size, for example, about inches wide and 17 inches long and may be manufactured of a sheet of synthetic surface is crinkled or roughened plastic material 11, which when molded by any suitable well known molding process will have the physical properties of flexibility, inelastic, nonporous, .moistureproof, tough and tear-proof. The top and bottom surfaces 12, 14 are roughened and preferably are crinkled or creped. Extending upwardly from the top side or surface 12 are conical projections 16. These projections are arranged in longitudinal rows to define a rectangular grid. Projections in adjacent longitudinal rows are staggered, while projections in alternate rows are aligned with each other transversely of the pad. The

of steel or not, can be engaged it is draped over any curved or fiat part of a patients body or any other surface duringa surgical operation. The articles are all plainly exposed to view on side 12 and can easily be removed.

The projections 16 are formed by extrusion of the material of the pad upwardly from the underside of the pad. This forms conical cavities 20 as clearly shown inFIG. 2. In addition, the openings 21 of the cavities are surrounded by flat rings 22 which project downwardly from the bottom surface 14. This as mentioned previously. The rings 22 with projections 16 define suction cups. When an instrument or article is engaged on a projection 16, some air is expelled from the cavity 20 underneath as the side walls of the projection are compressed. This produces a suction effect. of articles placed on the pad tends to compress the rings to expel air from the rings and cavities 20 and cause a suction effect underneath. All these suction effects tend to hold the pad in place while it is draped on a patient. The roughened crinkled surface 14 cooperates with the suction rings 22 and projections 1610 hold the pad in place on the patient. After use, the pad may be quickly lifted off the patient and discarded. It may, if desirable be washed, sterilized and used again. 3

FIGS. 3 and 4 show another pad 10A which is similar to pad 10 and corresponding parts are identically numbered. In pad 10A, the projections 16a, from the upper side 12 of sheet 11a are cylindrical instead of conical. This construction may be.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, sheet 11b of pad 10b has conicalprojections 16b as in pad 10, but the projections extend upwardly from the plane of top side or surface 12b instead of from depressions as in pad 10. Rings 22b are formed by pressing narrow circular channels 24 downwardly from the top surface. The rings 22!: and projections 16b serve as suction cups as in pads 10 and 10a.

Pad 10c shown in FIG. in pad 10a but the electrostatic charge and will not generate sparks.

The pads may be manufactured by conventional mass production plastic molding or forming machinery at low cost. They may be sterilized at the factory and packed in sealed sterilized'packages which are not opened until ready for use in a surgical operating room. After a single use they may be discarded.

It should be understood that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A surgical pad, comprising a sheet of nonporous material, said sheet being formed with a multiplicity of spaced projections extending outwardly of its upper side to engage differently shaped articles thereon,

said sheet being flexible to drape smoothly upon any shaped supporting surface,

each of said spaced projections having a projecting ring on the underside of said sheet for engaging upon said supporting surface, each of said spaced projections being hollow and defining a cavity open inside one of said rings at the underside of said sheet to define a suction cup with said one ring.

2. A surgical pad as defined in claim 1, wherein each side of the sheet is roughened for frictionally engaging said articles and said supporting surface respectively.

3. A surgical pad as defined in claim 1, wherein said projections are conical.

4. A surgical pad as defined in claim 1, wherein said projections are cylindrical.

5. A surgical pad as defined in claim 1, wherein said rings are defined by circular channels formed in the upper side of the sheet.

6. A surgical pad as defined in claim 1, wherein said projections are formed with laterally projecting ribs which help to hold said articles.

7. A surgical pad as defined in claim 1, wherein said sheet is formed with a multiplicity of circular depressions surrounding the respective projections, said circular depressions having flat bottoms, said projections extending outwardly from the plane of said flat bottoms of the depressions, said depressions extending downwardly from the plane of said upper side to define said rings at the underside of the sheet.

8. A surgical pad as defined in claim 7, wherein each side of the sheet is roughened for frictionally engaging said articles and said supporting surface respectively.

9. A surgical pad as defined in claim 8, wherein each of said projections is conical.

10. A surgical pad as defined in claim 8, wherein each of said projections is cylindrical. 

1. A surgical pad, comprising a sheet of nonporous material, said sheet being formed with a multiplicity of spaced projections extending outwardly of its upper side to engage differently shaped articles thereon, said sheet being flexible to drape smoothly upon any shaped supporting surface, each of said spaced projections having a projecting ring on the underside of said sheet for engaging upon said supporting surface, each of said spaced projections being hollow and defining a cavity open inside one of said rings at the underside of said sheet to define a suction cup with said one ring.
 2. A surgical pad as defined in claim 1, wherein each side of the sheet is roughened for frictionally engaging said articles and said supporting surface respectively.
 3. A surgical pad as defined in claim 1, wherein said projections are conical.
 4. A surgical pad as defined in claim 1, wherein said projections are cylindrical.
 5. A surgical pad as defined in claim 1, wherein said rings are defined by circular channels formed in the upper side of the sheet.
 6. A surgical pad as defined in claim 1, wherein said projections are formed with laterally projecting ribs which help to hold said articles.
 7. A surgical pad as defined in claim 1, wherein said sheet is formed with a multiplicity of circular depressions surrounding the respective projections, said circular depressions having flat bottoms, said projections extending outwardly from the plane of said flat bottoms of the depressions, said depressions extending downwardly from the plane of said upper side to define said rings at the underside of the sheet.
 8. A surgical pad as defined in claim 7, wherein each side of the sheet is roughened for frictionally engaging said articles and said supporting surface respectively.
 9. A surgical pad as defined in claim 8, wherein each of said projections is conical.
 10. A surgical pad as defined in claim 8, wherein each of said projections is cylindrical. 